Top 4 Benefits of Using a VPN

With Internet access being so vulnerable, it is necessary to put security measures in place. While firewalls and anti-virus software can offer some protection, a VPN offers additional security. A VPN is a virtual private network that is designed to hide the user’s location and IP address from websites and online services they access. Instead, these websites and online services only see the IP address of the VPN server. The userâs ISP cannot see what the user access online. They only see secure connections to the VPN server. Since the VPN creates a dedicated secure tunnel to the Internet, third parties canât access data transferred to or from the VPN server. Using a VPN affords the user many benefits, five of which are discussed in more depth below:

Enhanced Security

Security is the main reason why individuals seek out VPNs. A VPN ensures that websites are not able to track the user’s location. In addition, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are unable to track user activity and apply restrictions on use. Furthermore, the Internet is full of malicious parties who seek to obtain the personal information of as many individuals as possible. This leads to credit card fraud and identity theft amongst other personal violations. Individuals who browse over networks that are not secured by a VPN subject their personal information to being stolen.

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Bypass Website Restrictions

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There are two types of website restrictions that users may encounter when accessing the Internet. Many websites restrict access based on a user’s location. With a foreign VPN, however, this restriction is removed. Some VPN service providers offer multiple servers in several countries. Logging into one of these servers will help users appear as though they are located in that country, effectively overcoming the location-based restriction.

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The second type of restriction is one that governments and employers put in place to prevent users from accessing certain websites. If a user…